The idea of organizing a symposium on mathematical models in biology came to some colleagues, members of the Accademia dei Lincei, in order to point out the importance of mathematics not only for supplying instruments for the elaboration and the evaluation of experimental data, but also for discussing the possibility of developing mathematical formulations of biological problems. This appeared particularly appropriate for genetics, where mathematical models have been of historical importance. When the organizing work had started, it became clear to us that the classic studies of Vito Volterra (who was also a Member of the Academy and its President from 1923 to 1926) might be con sidered a further reason to have the meeting in Rome at the Accademia dei Lincei; thus the meeting is dedicated to his memory. Biology, in its manifold aspects proved to Se ~ difficult object for an exhaustive approach; thus it became necessary for practical reasons to make a choice of problems. Therefore not all branches of biology have been represented. The proceedings of the symposium, as a whole, assume a knowledge of mathematics on the part of the reader; however the problem of teaching mathematics to biologists was the subject of a round table discussion, not recorded in these proceedings. On this were brought up some basic points to be recommended to teachers on an international basis, and a statement was prepared for circulation. The Organizing Committee TABLE OF CONTENTS TOPIC I MODELS OF NATUPAL SELECTION . . . . . . . • . . . .

Inhalt
Topic I Models of Natural Selection.- Models of Natural Selection.- Stochastic Theory of Population Genetics and Evolution.- Natural Selection and Continuous Variation.- Some Models for the Evolution of Adaptive Traits.- Evolutionary Game Theory.- Variability and Permanence in Molecular Genetics.- Evolution in Human Populations: Data and Models.- Models of Density- and Frequency- Dependent Selection for the Exploitation of Resources. II. Coevolution of Species in Competition.- Intraspecific Competition and Evolution.- Ecological Implications of Natural Selection.- Topic II Problems in Population Biology and Related Disciplines.- Areas of Overlap of Population Genetics with Related Disciplines.- Completeness and Craft Standards in Ecological Theory.- A Theoretical Approach to the Dynamics of Single Populations.- Stochastic Equations in Neurobiology and Population Biology.- Models for Vector-Borne Parasitic Diseases.- The Dynamics and Control of Direct Life Cycle Helminth Parasites.- Epidemiologic Models of Bacterial Diseases.- Strategic Planning Models for Rubella Vaccination Programmes.- The Cybernetics of Biological Macromolecules.- A Pattern Formation Mechanism and its Application to Mammalian Coat Markings.- Cell Growth as an Autocatalytic Relaxation Process.- Vito Volterra and Contemporary Mathematical Biology.